What to See
8 highlights📍 Tap the pin for directions
The Eiffel Tower — Night Is Better
Book timed entry tickets well in advance (https://toureiffel.paris) to avoid the walk-up queue, which can exceed 2 hours. The view from the second floor is actually better than the summit for photography. At night, the tower sparkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour after dark — best viewed from the Trocadéro plaza or from Champ de Mars.
Champs-Élysées
The world-famous avenue is the ultimate shopping destination in Paris. Start at the Arc de Triomphe and walk down this boulevard lined with luxury boutiques, department stores, and iconic cafés. At the end of your 2 mile walk, you'll find yourself at the Louvre Museum.
The Louvre — Be Strategic
One of the world's greatest museums and genuinely overwhelming. Don't try to see everything. Pick two or three wings (Egyptian Antiquities + the Italian Renaissance paintings, for example) and do them properly. Book tickets online. Arrive when it opens. The Mona Lisa is smaller and more crowded than expected — the surrounding Italian paintings in the same room are often more rewarding.
Musée d'Orsay
The Impressionist collection here — Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh — is arguably more enjoyable than the Louvre for most visitors. Housed in a converted Beaux-Arts railway station with spectacular architecture. Book tickets online; queue much shorter than the Louvre.
The Café Ritual
Sitting at a Parisian café terrace with an espresso and a croissant is not a tourist cliché — it's how Parisians actually spend their mornings. The key: don't rush, don't ask for the check immediately, and understand that standing at the bar costs less than sitting at a table.
Le Marais
The best neighborhood for wandering in Paris — medieval streets, historic Jewish bakeries, excellent falafel on Rue des Rosiers, art galleries, and the Place des Vosges (Paris's oldest planned square). Also home to the Picasso Museum.
Walking the Seine at Night
A walk along the Seine between the Pont Neuf and the Pont de l'Alma, on the Left Bank, offers some of the most beautiful urban scenery in the world — Notre-Dame (currently being restored), the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, and the illuminated bridges. Free, uncrowded after 10pm, and genuinely magical.
Sainte-Chapelle
While visiting Notre-Dame, don't miss this stunning Gothic chapel. Its beautiful stained glass windows and intricate architecture make it a must-see. It's a very short walk from Notre-Dame.
Eat & Drink
go-to orderFrench 75
Gin, champagne, lemon, and sugar — a cocktail invented in Paris at Harry's New York Bar in 1915 and still a fixture on Parisian cocktail menus today. It's sharp, bubbly, and a genuinely Paris-born drink rather than an import, which makes it a better order than a generic glass of wine if you want something with a story. Harry's Bar (5 Rue Daunou) still serves it in the room where it was invented.
Steak-Frites
The definitive Parisian bistro order — a simple grilled steak (usually entrecôte or bavette) with a pile of crisp fries and a pot of Café de Paris or peppercorn sauce. It's on nearly every bistro menu in the city and it's the dish to judge a neighborhood bistro by. Order it "à point" (medium) unless you know French steak conventions run rarer than you're used to.
French Onion Soup (Soupe à l'Oignon)
Caramelized onions in a rich beef broth, topped with a toasted baguette slice and melted Gruyère. It's classic late-night Parisian food — historically served to workers at Les Halles market in the early morning hours — and still the thing to order at an old-school brasserie after 10pm when the kitchen's still running.
Paris-Brest
A ring of choux pastry filled with praline hazelnut cream, created in 1910 to commemorate the Paris–Brest bicycle race and shaped like a wheel. It's one of the few French pastries actually named after the city, and it's richer and nuttier than the more famous macaron — worth seeking out at a proper pâtisserie rather than a supermarket bakery counter.
Skip This
2 highlightsRestaurants Right Next to Major Monuments
The restaurants immediately adjacent to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre-Dame are, without exception, tourist traps with mediocre food at inflated prices. Walk three streets in any direction and prices drop dramatically.
The Tourist Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
Paris has one of the world's best and cheapest metro systems. There is no need for a tourist bus. Buy a Navigo Easy Card for €2 ($2.16 USD), then load a 10-pack of metro tickets on it for seamless metro travel.
Stay Safe
8 highlightsPickpockets at Major Attractions
Paris has a persistent pickpocket problem around the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Sacré-Cœur (Montmartre), and the Champs-Élysées. These are often organized gangs using distraction techniques. Keep bags secured in front, don't use your phone openly in crowded areas, and be especially alert if anyone creates a scene near you.
The Gold Ring Scam
Someone nearby suddenly stoops and picks up a shiny gold ring from the pavement. They turn to you — did you drop it? When you say no, they generously offer it to you as a gift. Moments later comes the ask: a little money for food, a reward. The ring is worthless and the scene is rehearsed. Just say non merci and keep walking. Common near the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and busy tourist corridors.
The Free Bracelet (and Other Free Item) Scam
A man approaches you on a busy tourist area — typically near Sacré-Cœur or the Eiffel Tower — and quickly ties a woven string bracelet around your wrist before you can pull away, insisting it's a gift. Once it's on, he demands money. Nothing about the interaction was free. If someone approaches you offering anything for free, decline immediately and keep moving. Nothing is free in Paris tourist areas. The same principle applies to anyone trying to hand you a rose or a trinket — accepting it will cost you money.
The Ball-and-Cup (Shell) Game
A small crowd gathers around a folding table or a piece of cardboard on the ground, where someone shuffles cups or bottle caps and a ball, and challenges onlookers to bet on which one hides it. It looks unrigged because 'other players' are winning — but they're accomplices working with the operator. There's no version of this game where a real bystander wins money. Lookouts often watch for police, and the whole setup can vanish in seconds. Never bet, and be aware that dense onlooker crowds around these games are also prime pickpocketing opportunities — commonly seen near the Seine, Sacré-Cœur, and other high-foot-traffic tourist spots. Just keep walking.
The Petition Scam
Someone approaches you with a clipboard, asking you to sign a petition for a good cause (deaf children, peace, something sympathetic). While you're distracted reading or signing, an accomplice may be going through your bag — or, after you sign, the person demands a 'donation.' If anyone approaches you with a clipboard and a petition, keep walking without engaging.
Phone Theft at Outdoor Restaurant Seating
When dining at a Parisian café or restaurant with outdoor (terrace) seating, keep your phone in your pocket or bag — not on the table. A common and effective theft technique: someone approaches your table asking a question or requesting something. While talking to you, they place a map, bag, or book on the table — directly over your phone. When they leave, your phone goes with them under their item. You may not notice until they're gone. Keep your phone out of sight when you're not using it.
Official Taxis Only — Avoid Street Solicitors
In Paris, only take official licensed taxis from designated taxi stands (look for the 'Taxis' sign in blue), or use the Uber app. Anyone who approaches you in arrivals, outside a train station, or near a tourist attraction asking 'Taxi? Taxi?' is unlicensed and may overcharge significantly. Official taxis have a lit rooftop sign and a regulated meter. When in doubt, use Uber — it's transparent and widely available.
Paris Is Generally Safe
Beyond tourist-area scams and pickpockets, Paris is a safe major European city. Standard urban precautions are sufficient in most areas.
Getting Around
3 optionsParis Métro
One of the densest metro networks in the world — almost nowhere in central Paris is more than 500m from a station. The Navigo Découverte pass (weekly, sold at any station) covers unlimited travel on metro, RER, and buses and is excellent value for stays of 4+ days.
Vélib' Bikes
Paris's municipal bike-share system is excellent for the flat central arrondissements. Electric bikes are available for steeper routes. App-based rental.
Seine River Boat Tour (Bateaux-Mouches)
A boat cruise along the Seine is genuinely worthwhile — it gives a unique perspective on the major monuments (Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Eiffel Tower) all from the water. The evening cruises, when the city is illuminated, are particularly beautiful. The most established operator is Bateaux-Mouches. Buy tickets at their dock at the Pont de l'Alma (on the Right Bank, at the Alma-Marceau Métro station). Cruises run regularly throughout the day and evening; allow about 1.5 hours. Book ahead in high season or arrive early — popular time slots sell out.
Day Trips
2 highlightsChâteau de Versailles
The palace of Louis XIV is an easy half-day (or full-day) trip from central Paris — the Hall of Mirrors, the State Apartments, and the sprawling gardens (rent a bike or golf cart to cover them properly) are worth the trip. Buy timed-entry tickets online in advance to skip the ticket line. Go on a weekday if possible — weekends draw the heaviest crowds. Budget at least 3-4 hours, more if you want to see the gardens and Marie-Antoinette's Estate.
From Notre-Dame, walk 5 minutes to the Saint-Michel–Notre-Dame station and board the RER C (yellow line) toward Versailles Château Rive Gauche — it's the last stop, so there's no need to watch for your stop. The ride takes about 35–40 minutes with no transfers, and from the station it's a 10-minute walk to the palace entrance. Because this is a single RER C line, the same instructions apply no matter which Paris station you start from: find any RER C platform, confirm the train is signed for Versailles Château Rive Gauche (VICK) — RER C splits into several branches, so double-check the destination board before boarding — and ride it to the final stop. Regular metro tickets do not cover this trip; buy an RER ticket to Versailles (or use a Navigo pass that includes zone 4) at the station.
Honfleur, Normandy
One of the prettiest small towns in France and an easy escape from Paris. The heart of Honfleur is the Vieux Bassin (Old Harbor) — a compact rectangle of water lined with tall, narrow, slate-fronted houses that have been painted by artists (including Monet and the Impressionists, who more or less got their start here) for centuries. Wander the cobbled Rue Sainte-Catherine, duck into the covered wooden market halls, and don't miss Sainte-Catherine's Church — the largest wooden church in France, built by shipwrights using boat-building techniques after the Hundred Years' War. Climb the separate bell tower across the square for a good view. The town is small enough to see properly in half a day, but atmospheric enough that many visitors wish they'd stayed longer.
The Vieux Bassin is ringed with restaurant terraces facing the water, and eating here — even though it's the obvious tourist move — is genuinely worth it for the setting alone. Order the regional specialties: moules-frites (mussels and fries, often prepared à la normande with cream and cider), fresh oysters, and anything with the local Camembert or cider-cream sauce. Prices are a notch higher than a back street, but not outrageous, and a table with a harbor view at golden hour is one of the best simple pleasures in Normandy — arrive slightly before or after peak lunch (1pm) and dinner (8pm) hours to get a water-facing table without a wait. Honfleur can be done as a long day trip, but it's also worth considering an overnight — the town feels completely different once the day-trippers clear out in the early evening, and the harbor lit up at night is one of the best photo opportunities in Normandy. Small boutique hotels and chambres d'hôtes around the Vieux Bassin book up in summer, so reserve ahead if you're staying over.
The best way to reach Honfleur is by car — it's roughly a 2.5-hour drive from central Paris via the A13, and having a car also makes it easy to combine Honfleur with nearby Étretat or Deauville in the same trip. Rental agencies are clustered near the major train stations (Gare Saint-Lazare, Gare du Nord) and at Paris airports. If you don't want to drive, an intercity coach (FlixBus / BlaBlaBus) is the most direct public option — there's no train station in Honfleur itself. Buses depart Paris from Bercy Seine (BlaBlaBus — accessible via Bercy Park, behind the weight-training area, from the Bercy Métro station) or from Porte Maillot / La Défense (FlixBus). Journey time is a about 3.5 hours with a couple of departures a day, so check the schedule and book ahead — double-check your exact platform on your ticket confirmation, since departure points can shift between stations.
Where to Stay
2 neighborhoods📍 Tap the pin for directions
Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th) or Le Marais (3rd/4th)
The most atmospherically Parisian neighborhoods — walkable to the major sights, excellent cafés and restaurants at street level, and a safe and active environment.
Near the Eiffel Tower (7th / 8th)
Expensive but convenient. Waking up with a view of the tower is a genuine experience. The 7th arrondissement is among Paris's most elegant.
When to Go
4 seasonsSpring (Apr–Jun)
Mild temperatures (50–68 °F (10–20° C)), chestnut trees blooming, gardens like Luxembourg and Tuileries at their best. Tourist numbers build but haven't peaked. Pack layers — rain is common.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Warm to hot (68–79 °F (20–26° C)), long daylight hours, Paris Plages turns the Seine banks into urban beaches. Peak crowds and prices — and many small family-run restaurants close for August as locals leave the city.
Fall (Sep–Nov)
Crisp air, golden light in the parks, and noticeably thinner crowds after early September. Excellent for museum visits without the queues. Rain increases by November.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold (36–46 °F (2–8° C)) and gray, but the city glows with Christmas lights and markets through late December. Fewest tourists and lowest hotel prices of the year outside the holiday week itself.
What to Know
5 essentialsVisa-Free Entry Today, ETIAS Coming Late 2026
EU citizens travel to France under standard freedom-of-movement rules — just a passport or national ID card, no visa needed. US citizens currently enter visa-free for up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period across the whole Schengen Area, France included. That's set to change later in 2026, when the EU's new ETIAS authorization becomes mandatory for US citizens and other visa-exempt travelers — a roughly €7 online application valid for three years. A six-month grace period is planned once it launches, so lacking one won't cause an automatic refusal right away, but it's worth applying as soon as it's live rather than waiting.
Passport Validity for Schengen Entry
Your passport needs to be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area, though carrying 6 months of validity is the safer standard to avoid any border-agent confusion. It also needs to have been issued within the last 10 years. Double-check both dates before you fly — this is one of the more common reasons travelers get stopped at check-in.
Tipping Is Not Expected — Service Is Included
French law requires restaurants to include service in the listed prices ("service compris"), so tipping isn't an expectation the way it is in the US. That said, rounding up the bill or leaving a few euros in cash for particularly good service is a nice gesture, not an obligation. Taxi drivers and cafe staff don't expect tips either, though small change is always appreciated.
Euro (EUR) — Cards Are Standard
France uses the Euro, and contactless card payment is the norm at restaurants, hotels, and shops throughout Paris. It's genuinely hard to find a place that doesn't take cards these days. Still, keep some small cash on hand for bakeries, outdoor markets, and public restrooms, some of which are cash-only or coin-operated.
A Few Rules Worth Knowing
The legal drinking age in France is 18. Public intoxication and disorderly conduct are enforced more strictly than casual drinking itself, which is a normal part of café culture. Photographing certain government and military buildings can be restricted, so use discretion around anything that looks official or sensitive. And keep the upcoming ETIAS requirement in mind if you're planning a return trip after it takes effect later this year.
Popular Events
3 annual eventsBastille Day
July 14France's national day. A military parade runs down the Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triomphe each morning, and the evening closes with a major fireworks display launched from the Eiffel Tower, best watched from the Champ de Mars or Trocadéro.
Fête de la Musique
June 21A free, citywide music festival marking the summer solstice — every genre, on every corner, from professional stages to amateur bands playing on the sidewalk. Concentrated in the Marais, Bastille, and Latin Quarter, but happening everywhere.
Christmas Markets & Illuminations
Late Nov – DecThe Champs-Élysées and Tuileries Gardens fill with holiday markets, mulled wine, and light displays through the end of December. Department stores like Galeries Lafayette put up elaborate window displays worth a look even if you're not buying.
Community Tips
2 tipsBeginning any interaction with 'Bonjour' — even just the single word, before asking anything in English — changes the entire temperature of the interaction. This isn't a cliché: Parisians respond measurably better to tourists who make the minimal effort. 'Bonjour, do you speak English?' goes much further than leading with English.
A proper boulangerie croissant (not a supermarket one) is one of the great pleasures of Paris. Look for bakeries with the 'Artisan Boulanger' sign. The croissant should be flaky, buttery, and slightly crisp on the outside — if it's too soft, it's been sitting.